Interview with Mimaya Dale

Mimaya Dale ("MD") interviewed on Monday, 16 November.

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?

MD : I started designing jewelry after I finished my university degree. I first studied to become a goldsmith and that also opened up my passion to design. Although I only professionally became a designer recently, I have been designing for about 10 years part time. I got married and started a family which obviously took up a lot of my time. I have worked for a small jewelry company in Melbourne, Australia, and I have a clientele at the moment which spans internationally.

How did you become a designer?

MD : Initially I jumped into the jewelry industry by learning to become a gold smith in Canada. I moved to firenze, Italy to study more of designing and gold smithing. After about 18 months of staying in Italy, I moved to San Diego, California to attend Gemological Institute of America to gain my degree in Graduate Gemologist. Although I was always in love with jewelry and jewelry designing I was never confident enough to take a big step, until after becoming a wife and a mother of two children. Something triggered me one day and decided to follow my dream, and I started getting back in to designing and launched my business. I have had a vision of my dream for a long time and it finally came true.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

MD : My top three priorities in designing are Quality, Precise measurements, and meaningfulness. Firstly I use sketchbooks and color pencils and all my designs are completed on the 3D computer software. Although the computer rendering is the final step in my designing, I do not rely on the images for final products. When designs come out of 3D printing I often change and alter my designing processes. Materials and the finished look depend on my inspiration and intuition. Depending on the projects, sometimes I use wax carving to help with visualizing, so I use both traditional and advanced technology for my jewelry designing.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

MD : When I see the 3D printed models coming out I get my first excitement. Meanwhile sometimes I am very nervous especially if I am under pressure for time. When I see final projects that are completely what I have imagined the joy is more hard to hide. The biggest reward is compliments and smiles I get from customers.

What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?

MD : I am very good with understanding people. I ever have a degree in Psychology from a university. Through studying at a university I believe I gained many skills such as patience and analyzing people, and that helped me to be a successful designer.

What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?

MD : In addition to making progress with my jewelry business, I also want to branch out from my jewelry designing. I want to design clothes, accessories, and shoes that can be collaborated with my jewelry designs.

What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?

MD : You do not need to rush, everything happens with the right timing. Keep steering yourself towards your goal.

You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?

MD : Slow and steady wins the race, and that is the tip I exactly followed.

What is your day to day look like?

MD : Usually when I wake up I turn my computer on. Read some stock market prices because as a jewelry designer precious metal prices affect my work. When I read newsletters from GIA(Gemological institute of America) about new gemstones and such really excites me. Also sometimes I find news headlines about gemstones I definitely pay attention. I design whenever I can until I go to bed, bit by bit if it is hard for me to find the time.

How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?

MD : Although I do pay some attention to the latest design trends I tend to keep my style distinctively. I take pride in meaningful jewelry designing and that is often different from the common fashion trend. There are many designs that are not unique and that is not what I believe in.

How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?

MD : Good designs need to be appealing to the eye, to offer a quality product with service, and stands up to the reputation of the designer.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

MD : I believe there is a way to improve a design. I look at a semi finished design project from 360 degree angles for a long time, and if I can not think any way to improve it then I leave it for a few days. It totally comes from within my intuition and inspiration if the product is ready or not.

What is your biggest design work?

MD : My fine collection that I designed in my website is what I am most proud of. I have delivered positive meanings and messages in my designs and combined the elements with overall beauty and uniqueness. My fine collection has given me many opportunities and the reputation that I have been looking for and have a deep meaning to me.

Who is your favourite designer?

MD : I love Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani's designs. If I could talk with a dead designer it would have to be Da Vinci for obvious reasons.

Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?

MD : I feel purified when I step into the city of Kyoto, Japan. Kyoto is full of historical architects and traditional Japanese culture. My designs are a collaboration between East and West, and I need to educate my self to learn about the Japanese art.

Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?

MD : I think I can be a difficult person to work with! I am a perfectionist and for me to find a partner he or she needs to be trustworthy and hard working. I feel that I have a huge responsibility to keep my standards high, and I expect to see high performance from anyone I work with. However if I find the right person we become family.

What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?

MD : I will absolutely involve myself with humanitarian projects. I also deeply care about the environment we live in. If I can contribute myself for a positive influence by my designing I am there!

What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?

MD : The experience I had with A' Design Award is priceless. I have never entered a competition before and I could not be happier that my first experience was with A' Design Award. With the Covid-19 outbreak worldwide I was nervous how everything would turn out. Given in the most difficult time they kept everything very professional and helpful, and the result gave me the confidence and reward which I really needed.

Mimaya Dale Profile